After seeing their drivers finish the final practice session for the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix in ninth and eleventh the prospects for qualifying were somewhat uncertain. But one thing was for certain was that the first twenty minute period would be a frantic period as the drivers would scramble for a clear lap. It would be interesting to see what fuel the teams decide to carry given the need for a good grid position. Four cars were running KERS, the Ferrari's and McLaren's. Trulli would be first out as the period started. He was followed by Glock and Fisichella.

Massa and Bourdais would also head out as more drivers took to the circuit. Raikkonen and Kovalainen were also out on the track as Massa pitted. Massa had made a mistake and lost in under braking putting the nose of his car into the wall at the swimming pool. This was on his out lap. He would return to the pits to have his car checked. Fisichella was fastest with a 1m:19.473 from Glock, Bourdais and Trulli. Heidfeld was now second, 1m:20.421. Trulli was now fastest with a 1m:18.856. Fisichella was down to a 1m:17.907 to be fastest. Both Williams drivers were still in their pits. Bourdais was now second from Heidfeld, Trulli, and Kubica. Sutil was now second and Kubica third.

It was all changing rapidly as both Toyota's pitted. Both Williams drivers were out on the track. Buemi was now fastest with a 1m:17.225. Both Force India cars would pit as Kovalainen was on a quick lap moving to the top of the times with a 1m:16.543. Vettel would pass him with a 1m:16.499 as Raikkonen went third. Kazuki's first lap would see him sixteenth, 1m:22.358. Nico's first lap was good enough to see him fourth, 1m:17.201. Button was now second, 1m:16.181, and Barrichello moved ahead of his team-mate with a 1m:16.157 to see him second. Kazuki's next lap would see him third, 1m:16.180. Kazuki was on the super soft tyre. Nico was seventh, 1m:16.344.

Button was now fastest with a 1m:15.817 but again Barrichello would move ahead with a 1m:15.660. Raikkonen was now fourth followed by Kazuki, Sutil, Hamilton, Kovalainen, Nico, and Webber. Hamilton was fastest in sector one but would lose it at Mirabeau hitting the barrier. He would destroy his left rear wheel. As a result of the location of his car the period was red flagged with eight minutes remaining. Everyone would pit while Hamilton pondered his mistake. His car was craned away and the period was restarted. Massa and Raikkonen would lead the field out of the pits. At the front Barrichello was leading from Button, Vettel, Raikkonen, Kazuki, Sutil, Hamilton, Kovalainen, Nico, and Webber.

Massa was on the super soft tyre as Both Toyota's left the pits. Both Brawn cars were also out on the track along with both Williams cars. Everyone was out on the track except Buemi. Raikkonen was on a quicker lap while Massa moved up to ninth. Raikkonen was now second, 1m:15.794. Massa was now fourth, 1m:15.870, as Alonso was on a quicker lap. Button was now fastest with a 1m:15.210 with Barrichello second. Kazuki was sixth and Nico twelfth. Nico was on an improved lap and would move up to fourth, 1m:15.576. Kovalainen was third, 1m:15.561. Webber was now fifth followed by Raikkonen and Massa. Alonso was eighth and Vettel ninth as the period came to an end. Kazuki was in tenth.

Nico would put in a brilliant last lap moving to the top of the times with a1 m:15.094. Button was second followed by Webber, Massa, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Buemi, Alonso, Vettel, and Kazuki in eleventh. Those not making the cut were Hamilton, Heidfeld, Kubica, Trulli, and Glock. A good start for both Williams drivers as they prepared for the second period.

Period two was underway with the drivers having just fifteen minutes to sort out a quick time. Nico and Kazuki were out early running on the super soft tyres. Fourteen divers were all out on the track as Raikkonen went fastest from Massa, Webber, and Kazuki. Button was now third followed by Nico. Raikkonen's time was a 1m:15.332 as Vettel went fastest, 1m:15.217. Massa was third and Kazuki fourth, 1m:15.663. Nico was down in tenth, 1m:20.162. Nico's next lap would see him on a 1m:14.846 to go fastest. He was four tenths faster than Vettel.

Kazuki was now sixth as Barrichello moved to the top fo the times with a 1m:14.829. But Webber would go even faster with a 1m:14.825. But Kovalainen would take the top spot with a 1m:14.809. Nico was now fourth and Kazuki eighth. Alonso was out on the track as most of the drivers pitted. Button's car was pushed back into his garage. Piquet would spin his car at the final corner just keeping the car off the barrier. Alonso was up to eighth. Kazuki was now ninth as Piquet was able to continue. Alonso would improve to now be in seventh, 1m:15.243.

Drivers would start to return to the track as the final five minutes commenced. Kazuki was back out while Nico remained in his pit. Alonso had pitted. Fisichella would have his times disallowed for cutting the chicanes. A dozen cars were on the track with Nico not looking like he felt it was necessary to go back out. Button was able to improve to be in sixth, 1m:15.016. Raikkonen was on a quick lap going fastest in the opening two sectors. He would go fastest with a 1m:14.514 seeing Kazuki drop to tenth. Nico was now fifth as the period ended, so we have both Williams drivers making it into period three.

Those not making the cut were Buemi, Piquet, Fisichella, Bourdais, and Sutil. The top ten was Raikkonen from Kovalainen, Webber, Barrichello, Nico, Vettel, Massa, Button, Alonso, and Kazuki. This was the first time that Kazuki had made it into the third period, a great effort from him. Now came the decision regarding strategy. How much fuel does the Williams cars take onboard to allow them to qualify near the front.

It looked like fuel would determine who would get pole for the Monaco Grand Prix. The drivers would start to come out for the final ten minute period. Raikkonen was first out with nine drivers out on the track. Webber was still in his pit while team-mate Vettel was on super soft's. Vettel would set the first time with a 1m:16.206 with Button second. Raikkonen was third from Barrichello. Nico was now fastest with a 1m:15.602. Massa was now second from Massa. Kazuki was down in ninth with a 1m:25.345. Vettel's next lap was a 1m:15.395 to go fastest.

Nico would improve with a 1m:15.455 to be second from Barrichello. Button was fourth from Massa, Kovalainen, Alonso, Raikkonen, Kazuki, and Webber. Vettel would pit along with both Brawn cars. Four minutes remaining as Nico also came in to take on new tyres. Kazuki's time was a 1m:17.521 to see him in tenth as Webber moved ahead into ninth. Raikkonen was on an improved lap seeing him in seventh, 1m:16.278. Nico was still second from Vettel. with two minutes remaining Webber would improve to be fifth, 1m:15.753. Nico was on a quick lap going fastest in sector one.

Raikkonen was up to second with a 1m:15.422 as Nico lost time in the second sector seeing him back off and try again. Button was on a flyer as Massa moved into third. Raikkonen was now fastest with a 1m:14.927 but he was passed by Button with a 1m:14.902. Barrichello was now third from Vettel, Massa, Nico, Kovalainen, Webber, Alonso, and Kazuki. The period would end with Nico appearing to struggle on his second lap of the softer tyres, but despite this his effort to be sixth backed up by Kazuki in tenth was a great effort. It was now down to how much fuel they had onboard with it looking likely that Kazuki was fuel for a one stop strategy.